It's rare for a freshman to make a large contribution to a team.
Though it is more common in baseball than many other collegiate sports, Illinois sophomore Jack Yalowitz was quick to make an impact, playing in 47 games for the Illini last year.
He had over 30 hits while scoring 20 runs and posting...

In her four years as an Illinois softball outfielder, Nicole Evans has made quite the name for herself: leader, teammate, friend, and sometimes even “Nickel” — because her mom's name is Penny.
Evans played in 41 games as a freshman, starting in 32 of them primarily in the right field. In her ...

Many college gymnasts often begin participating in the sport between the ages of two and five.
But Illinois gymnast Lizzy LeDuc, was introduced to the sport at seven.
"I was always doing flips and little cartwheels when I was younger,” LeDuc said. “One day my parents said, 'Okay, we need to put...

Senior Malcolm Hill has a theory.
According to Hill, every great team is equipped with a crazy guy.
He’s not far off. Bill Laimbeer helped the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back titles in the early 1990s. Dennis Rodman was a maniac for the Chicago Bulls' second three-peat. Tyler Hansbrough’s nickname...

With 19 seconds remaining and the game on the line against Michigan State, Kendrick Foster had a simple question for an Illinois defense preparing to stifle a fourth-down attempt in its own red zone.
“How do you want be remembered?” the junior running back shouted into the huddle.
Seven seconds...

From competing in the Olympic trials to running the fastest 8k time in Illinois men's cross-country history, Dylan Lafond does not see running as a sport but rather a lifestyle.
The senior has spent the bulk of his life engrossed in running, and his hard work shines through the Illinois record books....

As a high school All-American, senior outside hitter Michelle Strizak has been a gifted volleyball player for a long time.
Despite being a six-rotation starter through high school, the college game was a major step up for her.
“One of my greatest strengths was seeing the ball, but the college game was so much ...

Editor’s note: The Daily Illini sports desk sits down each week and decides which Illinois athlete or coach is our Illini of the Week. Athletes and coaches are evaluated by individual performance and contribution to team success.
Before this weekend, Illinois soccer had only scored eight goals.
But they swe...

Editor’s note: The Daily Illini sports desk sits down each week and decides which Illinois athlete or coach is our Illini of the Week. Athletes and coaches are evaluated by individual performance and contribution to team success.
Illinois hockey’s Eric Cruickshank spent his summer in a hoodie...

When the Illini offense is flowing, it's flowing through Jordyn Poulter.
The sophomore setter's role on the team is obvious to people watching the games.
“I think the setter on any team is a leader,” Poulter said. “We're running the offense; the offense is our responsibility.”
Poulter...

Junior Brandi Donnelly stands at 5-foot-8. She doesn't block a lot of balls or record many kills, but she is still an integral part of the Illinois volleyball team, offensively and defensively.
Illinois’ defensive specialist was named the Billiken Invitational Most Valuable Player after recording...

Illinois men’s golfer Nick Hardy didn’t spend his summer interning, and he surely did not spend it on the beach.
Hardy was getting in as much golf as he could handle over the three-month summer break before returning for his junior year.
In his first appearance for Illinois this season, Hardy...